EAST Lothian’s Covid infection rate has fallen recently and this is very welcome.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken about the need for young people to come forward for the vaccine and the importance of people self testing. I agree and I would encourage every young person who qualifies for it to get the vaccine.

However, the Scottish Government has responsibilities too and it is very important that the First Minister faces up to these.

It is vital that the process for getting both vaccinations is straightforward. . . yet this is not always the case.

I received my appointment for my second vaccination the same week as the walk-in centre at the East Lothian Community Hospital opened.

But instead of being invited to go to our local hospital, I was directed to the Royal Highland Showground near Edinburgh Airport.

I had previously asked in Parliament why people in East Lothian were being sent as far afield as West Lothian and, being aware of the local walk-in facility, I decided to get jabbed in Haddington. Other residents had also cancelled their appointments and were choosing the local walk-in option, rather than making the 60-mile round trip to Ingliston.

Perhaps it’s situations like this why Ministers are now falling badly behind when it comes to vaccinations among younger people, many of whom don’t have access to a car.

The First Minister previously said the SNP Government had targeted ‘giving’ second doses to all 40-49 year olds by July 26; to all 30-39 year olds by August 20; and to all adults by September 12.

However the SNP has downgraded those targets from ‘giving’ second doses to merely ‘offering’ second doses to those age groups.

Instead of shifting the goalposts, the First Minister should be moving heaven and earth to meet the targets.

The UK’s vaccine rollout has been a huge success. However, we will fall at the final hurdle in Scotland unless the First Minister gets a system in place to promote vaccinations locally wherever possible.